Compare towns
Appleton vs Brewer vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Brewer has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Dedham has the highest household income ($111k).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Appleton | Brewer | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
9,652Highest |
1,656 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2% ME: +2.6% |
-2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
40.1±4.8Lowest 10% below ME |
46.5±2.2 4% above ME |
| Appleton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Dedham and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
35% ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
7.7%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Brewer and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$66,613±$9k 11% below ME |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$245,300±$21k 17% below ME |
$356,400±$33kHighest 20% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,086±$54Lowest 5% below ME |
$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
| Dedham and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 18% above ME |
$3,374Lowest 11% above ME |
$3,942Highest 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
55.7%±13.3 ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% ME: 10.7% |
12.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
59.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
17 minLowest 31% below ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #32 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Brewer Public Schools | Dedham Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Brewer High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.